Vivint Doorbell Camera Offline No Power? (Fix it Now!)

If you suddenly see your Vivint doorbell camera offline no power is probably the issue here!

We know how important the Vivint doorbell is to the security of your home, and when it suddenly loses power and goes offline, it can leave your front door unsupervised.

The problem is typically solvable in a few troubleshooting steps.

We’re going to identify whether it’s a power supply issue, a faulty transformer, or a simple wiring problem.

This quick guide will walk you through the possible causes and solutions, so let’s jump straight in.

Vivint Doorbell Camera Offline No Power – 7 Working Steps!

Note: Follow the steps chronologically!

1. Drain the Doorbell System

The Vivint doorbell camera requires to be wired with an existing doorbell installation to receive voltage and work.

Therefore, you can hard reset the doorbell by temporarily disabling the power at the circuit breaker switch that’s wired to the system.

1.1 How to Identify the Circuit Breaker?

The circuit breaker box (or panel) can typically be found in your attic, basement, or garage.

It should have a small voltage icon on it, along with a high-voltage alert.

The panel could either have a latch or require a key to be opened.

Once you have the panel open, search for a switch that says “Doorbell System” or only “Doorbell”.

Note: Your Vivint doorbell switch won’t go by the name of “Vivint” unless the installation was conducted by Vivint technicians. 

1.2 How to “Discharge” the Vivint Doorbell?

Once you’ve identified which one of the switches is responsible for the power supply of your doorbell system, push the switch towards the “Off” position and wait for 10 seconds.

Then, push the switch back to “On” and check if the doorbell displays any signs of life. If not, there could be a problem with the terminal wiring.

2. Inspect Vivint’s Terminal Wiring

Two wires are coming out from the socket behind the doorbell–an A/C wire and a chime wire. 

So, verifying that the Vivint doorbell’s terminal wires are secured is amongst the first and most important things to check if the device loses power.

The terminals integrated with the mounting plate of the unit connect Vivint with the doorbell system and more specifically, the chime’s wires.

Here’s how:

1. Deactivate the power supply at the circuit breaker.
2. Detach the faceplate from Vivint’s mounting plate.
3. Now, loosen the screws holding the mounting plate.
4. Gently pull out the mounting plate from the socket.
5. Identify the terminals on the back of the Vivint unit.
6. Now, check if each of the chimes’ wires is secured.

If each of the chime wires isn’t secured, you can:

• Utilize a wire stripper to bare some of the wires
• Check if there’s dust accumulation on the poles
• Ensure each wire is tied to the correct terminal

Important: Contact a certified technician if there’s an issue with the existing doorbell installation!

3. Check the Chime Transformer

The Vivint doorbell camera no power problem could also be caused by your chime’s wiring and not always by the doorbell’s wiring.

Similar to any other installation, the transformer of the chime has a total of three terminals:

• “FRONT” terminal: Leads a wire for a doorbell installation to your front door.
• “TRANS” terminal: Maintains the power line between the chime and doorbell.
• “REAR” terminal: Allows for a doorbell installation in your backyard or backdoor.

For example, using both the “FRONT” and “REAR” terminals is only for installations that use two doorbells simultaneously.

Otherwise, you will certainly use the “TRANS” terminal and either the “FRONT” or “REAR”.

3.1 Where to Find the Chime Transformer?

The typical installation point of a chime transformer is inside or behind the chime box.

First, identify the exact position of your digital or mechanical chime and use an object or a piece of furniture to help you reach its position, as it’s generally near the ceiling.

Use a compatible screwdriver to undo the plate and carefully remove your chime mechanism cover.

Before touching any of the wires, ensure the power at the circuit breaker is disabled and locate the transformer’s terminals. 

3.2 How to Inspect the Chime Transformer?

Ensure both of the wires going into the “TRANS” and the “FRONT” or “REAR” terminals are secured.

If the transformer uses security screws instead of pole knits, tighten them using a screwdriver to keep the wires in place.

Tip: If the transformer sustains critical damage, there will likely be burnt areas around the terminals or on either of the wires.

4. Reboot the Vivint Doorbell Panel

The Vivint doorbell will be rendered unusable and may even refuse to power on if there’s an underlying fault with the panel.

Also, your Vivint doorbell won’t connect to Wi-Fi unless you have the SkyControl or SmartHub panel.

So, the panel works as a digital chime and creates a crossroad for all of your system’s alerts, notifications, and messages. 

• The panel can be located in the main hallway or living room of your home, depending on where the technicians installed it.

Here’s how to reboot the panel:

1. Wake up the panel by pressing once on the display.
2. Now, tap the Menu icon, then navigate to “Devices”.
3. Navigate to “Smart Home Settings” from the page.
4. Enter your guardian PIN to unlock the device page.
5. Now, open the live feed of the panel via the options.
6. Press “Displays” and then press the panel to reboot.
7. Select “Reboot”, then press “Yes” to confirm.

Alert: The Vivint doorbell won’t be able to connect or use any online features without a panel.

5. Supply Vivint Over PoE (DIY)

If there is no power to the Vivint doorbell camera, and you don’t want to rely on the doorbell’s wiring, then you can install and use a PoE injector.

Well, powering Vivint over Ethernet works because it minimizes electrical fluctuations, avoids electrical wiring issues, and provides a stable source.

You’re going to need:

• A PoE injector (24V or 48V to 12V step-down converter)
• An Ethernet cable to connect with the router and injector
• A PoE splitter to separate both power and Ethernet lines

Here’s how to set up the PoE:

1. Disable the power at the doorbell’s circuit breaker.
2. Access the terminal wiring of the Vivint doorbell.
3. Connect an Ethernet cable with the PoE injector.
4. Use the PoE splitter to separate the injector lines.
5. Plug the chime wires into the PoE splitter’s inputs.
6. Now, wait until the doorbell starts up and then test.

Pro Tip: You can use a multimeter to measure the exact conversion rate of the PoE injector! 

6. Factory Reset Vivint Doorbell

So, if you’re still having issues with identifying the Vivint doorbell’s fault, we recommend a clean factory reset.

All you need to do is press and hold the doorbell’s “Ring” button until the indicator ring turns solid red, and you hear “Release now to factory reset”.

Shortly after the voice indication, release the button as the voice message suggests and allow the Vivint doorbell to initiate the factory reset.

The procedure may last for a couple of minutes before the Vivint product reboots and becomes ready for setup.

How to Factory Reset the Vivint Panel?

It is also recommended to reset the Vivint panel in case there’s a local Wi-Fi outage or any synchronization problems with the doorbell.

Here’s how:

• SkyControl panel: Disarm your system, unplug the panel from the outlet and loosen the screws on the back to pop-out the, and unplug the interconnected red, black & white wires.
• SmartHub panel: Disarm the Vivint system, unplug the panel’s power cord, push the panel up to slide it off from the mounting plate, and remove the black box (battery) on the backside.

Note: Keep the panel power suspended for about ~60 seconds, then reconnect the SkyControl panel’s interconnected wire or the SmartHub panel’s battery. 

7. Run the Doorbell to an Outlet (DIY)

You can use a low voltage wire to run Vivint to an outlet if the Vivint doorbell camera offline, no power problem persists.

So, by using a compatible transformer, you can match the outlet’s voltage with the A/C requirements of the doorbell and determine if your installation is defective.

All you’re going to need is:

• Low-voltage wire (18-20 AWG recommended)
• 14-24V AC or 12-24V DC transformer
• Wire strippers
• Electrical tape or wire connectors
• Philips/Flathead Screwdriver

Warning: Always disable the power supply to your system before starting any electrical work!

Step #1 Route the Wiring

Pass the low-voltage wire through the doorbell’s terminals to the approximate location of the electrical outlet.

You can cover the wire by taking advantage of your home’s surroundings to create a more authentic setup.

Step #2 Connect the Transformer

Now, strip several inches from the wire’s insulation on either of the ends and attach the wires to the terminals of the transformer.

If you’re using a DC transformer with an alternative polarity, ensure the wires are properly matched with the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals. 

Step #3 Connect the Vivint Doorbell

Next, attach the wires of the transformer to the terminals of the Vivint doorbell by following the disassembly instructions in solution #2.

Ensure each of the wires is properly secured with the terminals before reinstalling the faceplate and resuming the power supply. 

Step #4 Secure the Wiring & Transformer

The final step is to verify that the wiring of the Vivint doorbell is secured before connecting the transformer to the outlet.

Test the doorbell by restoring the power supply of your system and check if Vivint will start up without any errors. 

Note: If you’re still having issues, consider reaching out to a qualified technician to inspect your doorbell installation or speak directly with Vivint’s customer support. 

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